Butchers of LA: 131 Bodies, Three Monsters, One Terrifying Truth
The new true crime series Butchers of LA on Viasat True Crime tells the shocking, real-life story of three serial killers — Patrick Kearney, William Bonin, and Randy Kraft — who hunted young men across Southern California at the same time. For years, police believed they were chasing a single killer. The truth was far worse.
Could there really be three serial killers operating in the same place at the same time?
Yes. And that's what makes this case so deeply disturbing.
Between the late 1960s and early 1980s, 131 bodies were discovered across Southern California. At first, everything pointed to one man — the so-called "Freeway Killer." But investigators began to notice something chilling:
Different methods.
Different patterns.
Different signatures.
This wasn't one predator. It was three — hunting in parallel.
Why did police get it so wrong for so long?
Because the crimes looked eerily similar:
- Young male victims
- Hitchhikers
- Bodies dumped near highways
- Little to no forensic evidence
"Bodies just kept piling up at a very disturbing frequency…"
This was also the pre-DNA era of policing. Victims disappeared without a trace, jurisdictions didn't always share information, and the killers exploited that chaos perfectly.
Who was Patrick Kearney — the 'Trash Bag Killer'?
Patrick Kearney operated with cold precision:
- Quick executions — a single gunshot to the head
- Dismemberment
- Bodies stuffed into industrial trash bags
- Dumped like waste
He was intelligent, methodical… and invisible. By day, an aerospace engineer.
He killed at least 21 victims (likely 30–40). In 1977, he did something chilling — he turned himself in.
Sentence: multiple life terms. Location: California state prison (San Quentin).
Why was William Bonin called the 'Freeway Killer'?
William Bonin didn't just kill. He took his time.
- Abducted victims into a van
- Tortured them for hours
- Raped them
- Murdered and dumped their bodies
Witnesses called his vehicle the "death van" — if you got in, you didn't get out alive.
He murdered at least 21 young men and boys.
Sentence: death penalty. Executed: 1996, lethal injection.
Was Randy Kraft the most terrifying of them all?
Many investigators believe so.
- Inflicted extreme torture
- Mutilated victims, often while alive
- Kept a chilling coded list — the infamous "scorecard"
"These were the most horrible, despicable things one human being can do to another…"
He was caught almost by accident — during a routine traffic stop. A body was found in the passenger seat.
Suspected in 60+ murders. Convicted of 16. Sentence: death row (still awaiting execution).
Who were the victims — and why were they targeted?
This is the part that hits hardest. The victims were:
- Teenagers (often 13–19)
- Hitchhikers
- Young, vulnerable men
- Often part of the LGBTQ+ community
"Young hitchhikers were picked up, raped, strangled, and dumped naked…"
They were easy targets in a world that didn't protect them.
Was the investigation doomed from the start?
Not doomed — but incredibly difficult:
- No DNA technology
- Multiple jurisdictions
- Hundreds of leads
- Media pressure
- Rising public panic
At one point, investigators were already tracking at least 45 victims on a single board. And still — the killings continued.
How did the media change everything?
It was the press that coined the term: Freeway Killer.
After headlines broke:
- Public fear exploded
- New witnesses came forward
- Pressure on police intensified
The media helped crack the case — but also revealed how long it had gone unnoticed.
Why is this story still so disturbing today?
Because it forces us to face an uncomfortable truth:
- Evil can operate in parallel
- Killers can be invisible, ordinary people
- Systems can fail — badly
This isn't the story of one monster. It's the story of a nightmare multiplied by three.
What exactly will you see in Butchers of LA?
Premiere: June 22, 9:00 PM (three nights, three episodes)
Episodes:
- "Trash Bags" — Kearney and his chilling precision
- "On the Freeway" — Bonin's mobile torture chamber
- "Keeping Score" — Kraft and his deadly tally
The series reveals how investigators uncovered the horrifying truth: they weren't chasing one killer — but three.
FAQ – the questions that stay with you
How many victims were there?
At least 131 bodies, though the true number may never be known.
Did the killers know each other?
No. They operated independently — which makes it even more terrifying.
Who was the worst?
It depends how you define "worst":
- Kearney — cold and calculated
- Bonin — brutal and sadistic
- Kraft — methodical and psychopathic
Are any of them still alive?
- Kearney — likely still in prison
- Kraft — on death row
- Bonin — executed
Why didn't victims escape?
Because they trusted. Because they needed a ride. Because it was a different time.
Could this happen today?
Harder — but not impossible.
Why should you watch Butchers of LA?
Because this isn't just another true crime story. It's a series that:
- Grips you like a thriller
- Shocks you like a horror film
- And stays with you long after it ends
If you think you've seen it all — this story will prove you wrong.
